The Rams intend on trading the star wide receiver this offseason.
It is no secret that upgrading the supporting cast around quarterback Drake Maye is the New England Patriots’ biggest offseason priority. There are many ways to accomplish that goal, including bolstering his receiving corps through trade.
Among the players expected to be available is veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp. The former Super Bowl MVP is coming off a comparatively unproductive career by his standards, but he still hauled in 67 catches for 710 and 6 touchdowns in 2024 — numbers that would have made him New England’s top pass catcher in all three categories last year.
So, should Mike Vrabel and company make a call in hopes of bringing the 31-year-old aboard from the Los Angeles Rams? There are arguments in both directions.
Why the Patriots should pursue a Cooper Kupp trade
Raising the floor: Make no mistake, Cooper Kupp in 2025 is not the same player he was four years ago when he won the NFL triple crown, was named Offensive Player of the Year, and played a pivotal role in the Rams winning the Super Bowl. That being said, he can still be a productive player who would be of some use for a New England team trying to develop its offense around Drake Maye. At the very least, adding him to the mix would raise the floor of a receiving corps currently headlined by the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas and Ja’Lynn Polk — all players who struggled with consistency in 2024.
Addressing a need: Given the current composition of the Patriots’ wide receiver group it is no surprise that the position sits near the top of the team’ offseason needs. Adding Kupp to the mix would not be the only solution nor give the team a true difference maker, but he would bring proven production and immediately make the team less reliable on the likes of Boutte, Bourne, Douglas or Polk (which in turn might end up helping those players).
Leadership: At the moment, Kendrick Bourne — a college teammate of Kupp’s at Easter Washington — is the most experienced member of the Patriots’ wide receiver room. The rest consists entirely of players entering either their second or third year in the NFL. Kupp, like Bourne, is headed for Year 9 and a potential role model and mentor for the rest of the group. He was voted a team captain five times during his time with the Rams, and the leadership he would be able to provide would be an underrated asset for a bridge receiver.
Why the Patriots should not pursue a Cooper Kupp trade
Roster building approach: We mentioned it in our recent assessment of a potential Myles Garrett trade, but New England has adopted a “draft and develop” strategy under de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. While incoming head coach Mike Vrabel might have a different opinion on the matter, the importance of adding players through the draft is not lost on the organization. Parting ways with a mid-round pick for an aging wideout might therefore not be in the Patriots’ best interest.
Price tag: Speaking of age, Kupp will turn 32 in June. While his age alone might not be a disqualifier, the circumstances surrounding it seemingly work against him as far as a trade to the Patriots is concerned. Just look at his contract, which has two years left and would come with cap charges of $20 million in 2025 and $19.85 million in 2026. Obviously, New England would aim to restructure — something that is entirely possible with only $5 million in salary guarantees remaining for 2025 — but the overall price tag going down significantly, rather than being spread out more, should still not be expected to happen.
Injury history: Through his first eight seasons in the NFL, Kupp has appeared in all 16 or 17 games just twice; he did not miss a contest in 2019 and 2021, the two most productive seasons on his career résumé. The other six years, meanwhile, saw him miss time due to injury — including 2024, when an ankle injury forced him to miss four games. An individual injury like this will not be a deal breaker per se, but given his advanced age and declining overall production it is a factor to consider for a team such as the Patriots possibly pursuing him.
The Patriots are entering the offseason with vast resources in regards to both their salary cap space and their draft pick portfolio. They can afford to trade a mid-to-late-round pick for Cooper Kupp if they so choose and absorb his contract even without an immediate restructure or extension.
As outlined above, there are definitive arguments in favor of them making that call, starting with Kupp’s still-solid production in spite of his age and injury history. However, trading for him would not be about what he had to offer in the past but the type of weapon he would be for New England moving forward.
That is where the questions start — questions that would have to be answered by the Patriots’ brain trust, starting with head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. If they see value in Kupp relative to the Rams’ asking price and his contract, them making a move could very well happen.
Until there are definitive signs something may or may not be in the works, however, all those outside One Patriot Place can do is speculate. So, what do you think? Should New England pursue Cooper Kupp or not? Please head down to the comments to discuss.